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Animal and Plant
The Deer
The deer that can be found in North America are usually categorized in two groups; that is the whitetail deer and the mule deer. Whitetail deer are common in all parts of North America. The whitetail deer is scientifically referred to as Odocolileus virginianus while the mule deer is known as Odocolileus hemionus. Various distinctive features are used to identify the deer. For instance, the whitetail deer has a reddish-orange tail in the summer period that turns to brownish-grey in autumn whereas the mule deer has a reddish-orange tail in summer while in autumn it turns to silver-grey. In addition, the whitetail deer has a significant, triangular tail that is brown at the apex and white below. When it senses danger, the animal will lift up its white portion of the tail, thus warning other deer of the impending danger (Wegner 19).
The Northern America deer vary in body size. The mule deer usually outweighs its whitetail counterpart. Winter periods in the North provide water during the summer period and this leads to the availability of good pastoral fields where the deer can easily access a high calorie diet. Deer are herbivorous and their feeding habits vary with the changing seasons. Deer normally feed on green leaves, grass, corn, and fruits from trees and low vegetation. Like many mammals, the deer’s feeding time is usually early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Deer are fond of occasionally chewing on orchard trees and ornamental shrubs (Leach 71).
The mating season of the deer is considered to be starting in the month of October and ending in the month of December. The cycle is primarily managed by females due to hormonal changes that cause females to separate from their families in a bid to secure breeding areas. In this period, the female deer marks various territories to attract male deer. Note that, a female deer normally mates with many males before actual fertilization is ensured. The gestation period covers between one hundred and ninety-six days to two hundred and one days. Depending on various conditions such as the age of the doe, as well as external factors such as health, nutrition and climate, the number of fawns will vary anywhere from one to three (Alsheimer 45). These fawns will live with their mother until she is ready to mate and bring forth the next batch. The deer depends on natural camouflage to escape predators during the growth period. The fawns normally reach a maximum growth size between three to five years (Townsend 86).
A good deer habitat is largely characterized by forested and bushy regions. However, this ranges with species nature. For example, the mule deer prefers open land habitat with less vegetation cover while the whitetail deer is normally found in areas of largely covered with plantations for camouflage purposes against predators. The mule deer is found in places with steep open grasslands and sparse vegetation but as for the whitetail deer, it prefers an area that is covered with diverse grasslands and large woodlands. Deer are quite active during early morning and evenings periods as they rummage for water and pasture. Deer moving periods are usually in the spring and autumn periods. Travelling increases in autumn as mating phases approach. In addition to habitat factors, deer have special ways of protecting themselves from predators. For instance, the whitetail deer uses the white part of its tail to warn other deer of any impeding harm (Alsheimer 56).
The most social group within the deer family is the adult doe, especially one with young fawns and offspring. When a doe matures, she is able to leave the family group and look for a mate in order to procreate her own fawns. During this process, the siblings are left as independent herbivores within the summer period. After the birth of fawns, the doe is allowed to return to her siblings and in this period reunite them with her new fawn between the months of September and October. After some time, the siblings separate for the more mature ones to start their own lives. At first, deer were rare species on earth that almost faced extinction due to various activities such as hunting and poaching, among others. Such episodes of near extinction necessitated the institution of various controls.
The deer have various ways of responding to other species. For example, the whitetail deer can use it large tail to inform other deer of potential danger. In addition, the animal possesses different scent capabilities that allow the tracing of other deer as well as identifying predators. The whitetail deer does not have eyesight and it relies on scent for the location of enemies. Deer interact with other herbivores during feeding and watering periods but they tend to flee from predators. The mule uses its horn for protective purposes against known enemies (Walrod 28).
Sunflower
Sunflower can be considered as one of the few crop species whose true derivation is North America. Scientifically it is referred to as Helianthus annuus (Chrispeels and Sadava 45). The sunflower plant produces sunflower seeds that are quite useful to humans in terms of health maintenance. Sunflower seeds are grayish-green or black in color. Sunflowers were first grown by the natives of America as a source of nutrition. Later on, it was noted that their seeds provide a significant percentage of oil and it these therefore became a primary constituent of polyunsaturated oil. Among the other components that can be identified in the seeds, include vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and selenium, among others (Chrispeels and Sadava 65). These nutrients have various health advantages. For example, vitamin E aids in the reduction of diabetic complications and a reduction of the colon cancer. Magnesium is a fundamental constituent for a strong bone structure and vitality while selenium aids in the restoration of cells and tissue that have been injured or worn out. Although sunflower seeds are valuable to human health, excessive consumption can be harmful. It can cause symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, diarrhea and double vision (Chrispeels and Sadava 69).
The reproductive process of the sunflower begins with a seed and the first thing to appear once a flower begins to grow is a green shoot that eventually becomes the stem. This happens after fertilization between the male and the female parts of the sunflower. A mature stem supports leaves of the sunflower plant. These leaves absorb the sun’s energy for photosynthesis. The roots of the flower gather nutrients and water from the soil, combined with energy from the leaves and used to supply the stem with growth nutrients (Evans 57). The sunflower gathers energy with its natural inclination toward the sun. The plant requires approximately four months since its inception towards attaining full maturity. Provided with the right humidity and temperature conditions, a sunflower will tower over other plants to reach up to six or seven feet. After attaining full height, the sunflower heads turns downwards for the provision of stability.
Sunflowers mainly grow in semi-arid areas regions. The plants survive in low temperatures between seventy and seventy eight degrees Fahrenheit. Sunflowers require areas that are not waterlogged in order to gain momentum for full and stable maturity. They grow best in regions where there is plenty of sunshine in order to gain enough energy required to facilitate photosynthesis after germination. Sunflowers are also best grown in areas where there are enough factors for enhancing pollination such as bees and crawling insects among others. The plants also require areas that are not infested with pest and weeds (Tagliaferro 86).
Normally, it is advised that farmers should use mulch such as grass and compost manure in order to help with the germination process and facilitate enhanced growth for sunflower seed in terms of period length. Suitable growth soil necessary for the sunflower germination and growth has to contain enough nutrients in order to enhance the growth of various flower parts of the plant. Sunflowers seeds are harvested once the head of the flower acquires a black color from the initial green hue. Once the seeds are harvested, they should be stored in small covered jars and kept in a cold and dry storeroom to prevent them from heating up and losing their nutritional value (Evans 107).
The sunflower can be used in various ways to benefit humans, especially with regard to health. Nutrients available in the sunflower seeds are utilized in medical research to create curative medications for various illnesses, such as strengthening of bones, destroying of worn out cells and controlling prostrate cancer. Sunflower extracts are also resourceful in factories since they are employed in the making of soaps and detergents, production of agrichemicals, plastics, fabric softeners and lubricants. Due to its light color and digestible fatty acids, the sunflower plant has been used in the production of cooking oil. Sunflower is also considered as a meal since it is rich in nutrients such as proteins.
Sunflower seeds in the food pyramid are classified in the same category such as peanuts and cowpeas due to its formation and structure. The grouping of sunflower seeds in the food structure with other seed does not mean that they have the same nutrient components but that the can be grown in the same manner as well as the same pollination stages like the other seeds categorized in the given food pyramid. Sunflower plants serve many functions in Northern America. Apart from being regarded as a source of food, they can be used for compound beautification. Planting sunflowers helps in the ecological preservations. Due to the extensive nature of the plants roots, they can penetrate deeply into polluted water and extract harmful waste such as uranium, zinc and lead and therefore should be assessed before any form of consumption (Evans 75).
Works Cited
Alsheimer, Charles. Quality Deer Management. Minnesota: Krause Publications, 2002. Print.
Chrispeels, Maarten and David Sadava. Plants, genes, and crop biotechnology. Massachusetts: Jones and Bartelett Publishers, 2003. Print.
Evans, Richard. The sunflower. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2005. Print.
Leach, Michael. Animal neighbours: Deer. New York: The Rosen Publishers, 2008. Print.
Reneau, Jack and Eldon Buckner. Records of North American White Tail Deer. Missoula: Boone and Crockett Club Publishers, 2003. Print.
Stefoff, Rebecca. Deer. Washington: Bisson Publishers, 2007. Print.
Tagliaferro, Linda. The Life Cycle of a Sunflower. New York: Capstone Publishers, 2007. Print.
Townsend, Robert. Deer. Minnesota: Capstone Press Publishers, 2007. Print.
Walrod, Dennis. Making the most of your deer. Texas: Stackpole Publishers, 2004.
Wegner, Richard. Deer & Deer hunting . Hannover: Stackpole Publishers, 1992. Print.
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